Adjustable bed table



March 15, 1955 e. BION 2,704,235

ADJUSTABLE BED TABLE Filed 00 8, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS March 15, 1955 G. L. BION 2,704,235

ADJUSTABLE BED TABLE Filed Oct. 8, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \f 1 J4 u 50 22if Z3 32 42 Z7 4' 22 ATTORNEYS United States Patent ADJUSTABLE BED TABLEGeorgia L. Bion, East Orange, N. J.

Application October 8, 1953, Serial No. 384,965

1 Claim. (Cl. 311-27) l;l1his invention relates to an adjustable allpurpose bed ta e.

The object of the invention is to provide a table which is adapted to beused by patients or other persons lying in bed, the table permitting orfacilitating the ready accomplishment of a number of functions while theperson is lying on his or her back.

Another object of the invention is to provide a table which can bereadily adjusted so that it can be comfortably used while the body is inany position in bed ranging from the horizontal to a sitting upposition.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout thesame:

Figure l is a perspective view of the all purpose adjustable bed tableof the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the table.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the table showing the leaf or shelf inextended position.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the table.

gigure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken through the ta e.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the table top orplatform showing the lip or stop member and the gripping means in raisedposition.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 3.

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of one of the stopmembers or lips.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of one of the plates or brackets.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates ahorizontally disposed base which can be made of any suitable materialsuch as wood, and the base 10 is provided with a beveled edge 11,Figure 1. Arranged intermediate the ends of the base 10 is a recess 12,Figure 5, and seated in the recess 12 is the lower end of a verticallydisposed pedestal or upright 14. Suitable screws 13 may be used forsecuring the pedestal 14 to the base 10. The pedestal 14 is providedwith an arcuate cut-out 15 which conforms to the shape of the personsbody. In use the table of the present invention is used when a person islying in bed and the persons legs rest upon the top of the base 10 whilethe legs straddle the pedestal 14. The pedestal 14 is provided with anelongated vertically disposed slot 16 for permitting an adjustment ofthe table top as later described in this application.

For adjustably connecting the table top or platform 22 to the pedestal14, a pair of brackets or plates 17 are provided, Figure 11. In Figure11 the plate 17 in solid lines show the initial position of the platebefore it is bent or folded and in broken lines the plate is shown infolded ready to use position. The plate 17 includes a verticallydisposed slot 19 which is adapted to register with the slot 16 in thepedestal 14, and one of the plates 17 is arranged on each side of thepedestal 14. The plate 17 is further provided with an arcuate slot orrecess 18 which also registers with the slot 16in the pedestal 14. Aplurality of apertures 20 are arranged 2,704,235 Patented Mar. 15, 1955in each of the plates 17, and the apertures 20 are adapted to havesuitable securing elements such as screws 21 extended therethroughwhereby the horizontal portion of the plate 17 can be secured to theundersurface of the platform or table top 22. A triangular shaped bodymember 23 may be secured to the undersurface of the table top 22, andthe body member 23 is arranged between the upper portions of thevertically disposed sections of the plates 17 and is secured thereto bysuitable screws such as screws 24, Figure 2. A suitable bolt and nutassembly 25 extends through the registering slots 19 and 16, and asuitable bolt and nut assembly 26 extends through the cut-outs 18 andthrough the slot 16.

Secured to the undersurface of the platform 22 is a pair of guidemembers 27 which are each provided with a channel or slot 28. A shelf orleaf 29 is slidably mounted in the channels 28, and the shelf 29 isprovided with a cut-out 30 which provides sufficient clearance for theshelf when the shelf is in its retracted position beneath the table top22. A suitable recess 31 may be provided in the leaf 29 and the recess31 provides a hand grip for facilitating the sliding of the shelf.

Adjustably connected to an edge of the platform 22 is a lip 32 whichprovides a stop member. The lip 32 is provided with a pair of L-shapedslots 33, and a suitable securing element such as a screw 34 extendsthrough each of the slots 33 and into the adjacent portion of theplatform 22. Thus, the lip 32 can be moved from the position shown inFigure 1 to the position shown in Figure 10 or vice versa due to theprovision of the L- shaped slots 33, and with the lip 32 in the positionas shown in Figure 1 articles resting thereon will be supported.

Extending along the side edges of the platform 22 are rods 35 and 35.The left rod 35 has its upper end pivotally connected to the platform 22by a cotter key or pin 38. Thus, the upper end of the left rod 35 isshaped to provide a transverse finger 46 which extends into a socket 36in the platform. A cut-out 37 is arranged adjacent the socket 36, and acotter key 38 extends through an aperture 39 in the finger 46, thecotter key serving to prevent accidental disengagement of the finger 46from the socket 36. The rod 35 may be made of spring metal so that itcan be moved outwardly and upwardly as shown in Figure 6 when articlessuch as playing cards or papers are to be placed under gripping members45. The gripping members 45 may be made of cork or sponge rubber or anyother suitable material, and these gripping members may be secured tothe lower surface of bars 42. A pair of the bars 42 are provided, andeach of the bars 42 has a curved portion 43 for engaging pivotally therod 35' at the right side of the platform. The other end of each of thebars 42 is bent or shaped offset as at 44 for engagement with theopposite bar or rod 35, Figure 3, which is arranged at the left side ofthe table. The right rod 35' is provided with transverse lugs 40 on eachend thereof which permanently seat in sockets 41 in the right edge ofthe platform 22, Figure 8. The lower end of the left rod 35 is providedwith a lower transverse finger 3 which is detachably mounted in a socket4 in the lower left side edge of the platform.

The rod 35 on the left side of the table top is a clamp rod, while therod 35' on the right side of the table top is a hinge rod. The clamp rod35 serves to hold the clamp bars in position and is arranged to pivotwith the cotter key 38 at the upper left hand end of the table top. Whenthe clamp rod 35 is over the clamp bars at the left, and the forward endof the clamp rod is placed in the hole in the forward left end of thealuminum bar on which the concealed shelf slides, the clamp rod stays inplace holding the clamp bars secure for work. The hinge rod 35' has theclamp bars hinged thereto and serves to hold the clamp bars permanentlyon the rod only allowing them to be free to slip up and down for thedesired adjustments. The ends of the hinge rod 35' are fittedpermanently into holes made for them at the upper and forward ends ofthe table and the hinge rod 35 does not pivot nor is it removed from thetable.

From the foregoing it is apparent that an adjustable all purpose bedtable has been provided which is inexpensive to make, light and easy tohandle and self-adjusting since the adjustments are within reach of theperson using the table. The table can be made to adjust from either theright or left side by reversing the screws so that the wing nuts on thebolt and nut assemblies 25 and 26 may be on the side desired. Further,one size table can be adjusted to fit the needs of everyone, and thetable is always available for its intended use as it is not suitable forholding things as most bed tables are used for in hospitals. The presentinvention can be kept handy for use and the table is low enough to bekept under a hospital bed and it can be used for home use since thetable is low enough to be kept in a closet on the floor. The table canbe used by persons who like to work in a reclining position and thetable furnishes maximum ease and relaxation of the body through the useof the adjustments on the table so that one person may perform any typeof activity by the use of the bed table that may be accomplished whilesitting in a straight chair at an ordinary table. From a therapeuticpoint of view the table makes it possible for a patient to have any typeof work prescribed for treatment that a Well person can do sitting at adesk, provided the work is mentally and emotionally suited to theindividual and adheres to the time prescribed in the bed rest toleranceprogram which is based on the medical classification of the patient.

In use the table is used by putting it on the bed so that one leg of thepatient is placed around one side of the pedestal 14 and the other legis placed around the other side of the pedestal and over the base in thesame manner so that when the legs are completely straightened out inbed, the weight of the thighs and hips resting on the base 10 holds thetable firmly in place. The use of the able for any position of the bodyis made possible through the wide range of adjustments on the pedestal14 to form any angle, and the curved cutout 15 on the forward side ofthe pedestal 14 makes it possible for the table to be brought as high orlow on the upper torso as may be desired by simply pushing the base 10of the table up or down in the bed. The table is in the proper positionwhen the upper arms are resting on the bed at either side of the body orthe wrists are resting on the forward edge of the table so that there isno strain or pressure on the upper torso.

The adjustable stop 32 makes it possible for the weight of a book to beheld in the stop leaving the hands relaxed and free to turn the pagesand tilt the book at the correct angle for reading. The wrists can besupported on the forward edge of the table so that knitting,embroidering, weaving and the like can be accomplished. Furthermore, aperson can learn to type on a portable typewriter while lying in ahorizontal position since the adjustable table can bring the machineforward and at the correct angle and the typewriter can be held securelyin place by the adjustable stop 32. By means of the sliding shelf 29concealed under the right side of the table top and immediately belowthe table top, a person is able to read the exercises from a typingmanual when it is placed on the extended sliding shelf.

The two adjustable metal clamp bars 42 may be lined with a grippingmaterial such as sponge rubber or cork to give an adhering quality whenthe bars are clamped into position across the top of the table by therod 35 on the left edge of the table top 22. Furthermore, card games canbe played while lying in the horizontal position since the metal clampbars can be spaced so that the cards can be arranged across the table.In the sitting up position the table may be used for shaving since aregular shaving mirror can be placed against the forward metal clamp bar42 while the adjustable stand on the mirror can be placed against theother clamp bar. Further, the table can be readily used for holding atray of food.

To adjust the elevation and tilt of the top 22, it is necessary toloosen the bolt and nut assemblies 25 and 26 then raise the top 22 tothe desired height and tilt the top to the desired angle. The top 22cannot be elevated unless both the bolt and nut assemblies 25 and 26 areboth loosened. After the top has been adjusted to the desired positionthe bolt and nut assemblies 25 and 26 are then clamped or tightened andthe construction of the slot permits the elevation and tilt adjustmentsto be made at the same time.

To adjust the position of the bars 42, it is only necessary to pull outthe free end of the left rod 35 whereby the bars 42 can be moved to anydesired position after which the rod 35 can be returned to the locked orclosed position. The ends of the bars 42 may be rounded so that injuryfrom sharp edges will be prevented, or, suit- 1able guard members can beplaced over the ends of the ars.

Also, the table can be used for holding a sheet of paper in place for aperson who has only the use of one hand and the forward edge of the base10 is beveled as at 11 to conform to the contour of the patients body.

In constructing the table the pedestal may be glued into the recess 14and the screws 13 coact with the glue to insure that the pedestal 14 andbase 10 remain firmly connected together. Also the triangular shapedbody member 23 is seated in a suitable recess on the platform 22 and thebody member 23 may also be glued to the platform 22.

I claim:

In an adjustable bed table, a horizontally disposed base provided with abeveled edge, there being a recess in the base intermediate the endsthereof, a vertically disposed pedestal extending upwardly from therecess in the base and secured thereto, an intermediate portion of thepedestal being cut away arcuately in the same direction as said bevelededge, the lower section of the arcuate cutaway portion merging into thebeveled edge, said base positioned below a portion of a persons body andthe pedestal extending between the legs, a platform adjustably connectedto the opposite end of the pedestal by a pair of brackets each includinga vertically disposed portion contiguous to said pedestal, said bracketsfurther including substantially horizontally disposed portions securedto the undersurface of said platform, said vertical portions eachprovided with a vertically disposed slot, and a vertically disposed slotin said pedestal registering with the slots in said brackets, a securingbolt element extending through the registering slots, a triangularshaped body member secured to the undersurface of said platform andsecured between the vertical portions of said brackets, said body memberhaving the same width as said pedestal, and the lower edge of said bodymember abutting the top of the pedestal.

UNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited in the file of this patent431,036 Dawson July 1, 1890 632,804 Congour Sept. 12, 1899 803,083Weaver Oct. 31, 1905 1,246,981 Moyer Nov. 20, 1917 1,314,060 HagerstormAug. 26, 1919 1,443,998 Meltzer Feb. 6 ,1923 1,564,359 Klein Dec. 8,1925 1,625,774 Fraser et al. Dec. 13, 1927 1,770,955 Storm July 22, 19302,170,006 Brandt Aug. 22, 1939 2,541,779 Reeves Feb. 13, 1951

